This past Wednesday evening Ottawa Fire Services received a 911 call advising of an inflatable dingy which had capsized near the Deschênes rapids. Thankfully, the two people were wearing their highly visible yellow Personal Floating Devices (PFDs) and were floating near their overturned boat. They were helped back into the boat by other nearby boaters before being brought back to shore by Ottawa Fire Services Water Rescue technicians. Had they not had been wearing their PFDs when the boat capsized this could have had a very different story.
With this summer’s hot humid temperatures many residents have been seeking refuge in natural lakes and rivers and there has been an increase in the number of drownings this summer, please be safe and wear your PDF when on the river.
If you’re at the beach or in a backyard pool you should know the following:
- Know how to swim. It’s never too late to learn how to swim.
- Be familiar with the water you’re in (i.e. which part of the pool is deep or shallow).
- Don’t swim is restricted or closed areas.
- Know the location of the nearest phone.
- Avoid swimming alone.
- Be sober.
- Stay out of the water if there’s thunder, lightning.
And finally, remember no one plans for accidents to happen but you can help prevent them. Drowning is fast, silent and preventable.
Please visit the City web site for more helpful tips to ensure water safety at all times.